B Muni Kama Koti’s death sparks anger, outrage
Political parties, organisations and the general public came out strongly against the denial of special status
By : u. sudhakar reddy
Update: 2015-08-10 02:03 GMT
Hyderabad: Saturday’s self-immolation of B. Muni Kama Koti in Tirupati for special status to Andhra Pradesh sparked widespread public protests against TD-BJP combine across the state on Sunday. Political parties, organisations and the general public came out strongly against the denial of special status, both on the streets and social media.
AISF activists on Sunday stopped the convoy of Hindupur TD MP Nimmala Kishtappa and entered into a heated argument with him over the failure of TD government to get special status. A Dalit march was taken up in Kakinada from Ambedkar Bhavan to the collectorate in support of special status.
Union minister Sujana Chowdary’s frequent utterances supporting a “level playing field” if not special status has irked the public. Twitter and FB were flooded with criticism of the minister following Muni Koti’s death.
Mr Chalasani Srinivas of the Intellectual Forum of AP said, “The suicide of Muni Koti for special status is a murder by the state. The first accused is the BJP and it has to be prosecuted.” He dared the Congress leaders to stage a dharna in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s house.
CPI AP secretary K. Ramakrishna alleged that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Mr Modi had “cheated” the people of AP. The party has been conducting a bus yatra for special status, which reached Dhone in Kurnool district.
MP and AP BJP president Kambhampati Hari Babu said the Centre is trying to give more funds to AP than the money the state would get if it is given special status. He said the Centre was committed to the development of the state. “The government has granted '1,000 crore for the capital,” he said.
The TD also strongly denied the allegations. TD minister. K. Atchennaidu said, “There is a conspiracy to separate the BJP-TD combine. The Congress and the YSRC are together working towards this goal and enacting the drama.”
Janasena founder and actor Pawan Kalyan took a safe political stand and tweeted, “I am restraining myself from speaking further on AP’s special status in a volatile situation like this which caused the death of Muni Koti.” However his brother and Congress MP Chiranjeevi came down heavily on TD.